Approaching Neverland - A Memoir of Epic Tragedy and Happily Ever After

Reading memoirs, especially those that include words like "epic tragedy" may not be your very first choice when you're looking for a good read. To tell you the truth, I'd probably not have bought it either. I tend to lean toward books that are going to lift me up, not remind me of the less-than-joyful experiences of others. This book, however, is an exception to my rule. The fact that the author also included "Happily Ever After" in the title was enough to nudge me off my cozy little shelf and give it a read.Peggy Kennedy, author and living proof that there IS 'happily ever after', hails from the San Francisco Bay area. She grew up during those turbulent 60s, when mental illness was a secret safely guarded by families who had to deal with the daily terrors of psychosis, and the state of medical treatments were nothing short of horrific. Back then, electroshock therapy was as common as Xanax is today. Fact is, they just didn't know enough to help these people, and the methods
were often reminiscent of old Boris Korloff films. Not pretty, not very effective, and certainly not something folks wanted to talk about.Ms. Kennedy's story is not so much about her mother's mental illness as it is about the bonds of family, the love and humor that brought them through their ordeals, and the amazing grace she managed to find when she finally reached "happily ever after". She and her siblings were a tight crew. They supported each other, even beyond their mother's mental illness. They lost one sister to murder, a brother to AIDS, and various other horrors that would certainly have broken the best of family ties. Not this family. Their courage and humor were their saving grace, even when it seemed as if there would never be light at the end of their very dark tunnel.Approaching Neverland is one of those books that will move you, and make you really appreciate your life, regardless of how tough it may have been. It is both thought-provoking and inspiring. It t
ook me a bit longer to read than is my norm, mostly because there were moments when I was so overwhelmed by what they went through. She tells her story with such honesty, such deep feeling, you feel as if you're right there with them, going through it all, hanging on by a thread.If you've ever experienced any kind of family tragedy, regardless of what that tragedy may have been, you will certainly appreciate Approaching Neverland. And even if you haven't, there is great humanity in this work. Ms. Kennedy should be applauded for having the courage to tell her story, especially with such honesty. It is a book I highly recommend.If you'd like a copy of your own, please visit my site at ; you'll find the links there.

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